Julien Donkey-Boy
User Score
7.6 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 2 out of 10

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  1. Lee
    Feb 12, 2002
    10
    A stupefying, deeply sad, tormented, and evocative portrayal of one messed up American family. Like nothing else, like all true art.
  2. CraigB
    Oct 24, 2005
    10
    Okay, this is not a film for everyone. However, it stikes me that most of the negative comments that I have read here seem to be more a reaction to the characters and their lifesyle than to the elements of filmmaking. These are not necessarily people you want to hang out with in real life, but likable characters are not necessarily interesting characters to watch. I suppose one could fairly criticize the film as lacking in plot but that is precisely one aspect of the film that I find appealing. By not following the conventions of Hollywood storytelling, the film creates an atmosphere in which one feels that anything could happen. I found the camera work to be engaging and creative. The characters were completely original and all fairly well developed. In fact, I would defy anyone to say that these characters are ones that we have seen anywhere else in any other movie. I believe the quality of the acting was superb and very convincing (especially after seeing an interview with the actor who played the title character; he's not the dimwit that he played in the film). This film provides an interesting glimpse into a culture that is worth examining.… Expand
  3. ChristianP.
    May 31, 2005
    10
    A work of brilliance, reminiscent of Herzog's great movies of the 1980s. Compelling viewing.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
52 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 23 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 23
  3. Negative: 4 out of 23
  1. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Foreman
    25
    Sucker bait for the sort of credulous cinast who'll buy anything ugly and boring that looks like it's avant-garde...rancid stew of cheap shocks, sleaze and phony artiness.
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  2. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: J. Hoberman
    30
    A handheld and grainy exercise in cine-stupefaction...too spastic to connect...the movie just flails the air.
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  3. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Desson Thomson
    60
    The stranger and more unusual the characters, and the less they're explained, the better.
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